Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with (a) social media companies and (b) online accommodation booking platforms on tackling holiday and travel related fraud since the recent easing of international travel restrictions.

Fraudsters will use any hook to commit these crimes and COVID-19 has been no exception. We have seen criminals exploiting people’s unease and fear of the pandemic through opportunistically selling bogus PPE, running phishing campaigns impersonating government departments, and even vaccine fraud.

As restrictions begin to ease, it is important that we continue to remain vigilant to any risks and vulnerabilities. That is why we are engaging with the private sector to discuss the threat from online fraud and the need to prevent fraud and protect the public on these platforms.

As set out in our Economic Crime Plan (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/economic-crime-plan-2019-to-2022), we are clear that a public- private partnership is essential in tackling fraud. Government, industry, law enforcement, regulators and consumer groups are in regular conversation with the aim of protecting the public from fraud. This includes developing some voluntary charters of the actions that certain industries, including online platforms, will take to prevent fraud.

The Government will build on this work through our Fraud Action Plan, an ambitious approach grounded in prevention, education, effective enforcement and regulatory reforms that will be published after the Spending Review.

We continue to encourage anyone who has been a targeted by fraud to report it. Action Fraud is the central police reporting point for all victims of fraud and can be contacted by phone on 0300 123 2040 or through their website: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/reporting-fraud-and-cyber-crime. This information is being used by the City of London Police alongside crime reports to identify, disrupt and stop fraudsters.